Beverages and biscuits you have to try

When the scent of biscuits fills the air and you are holding a cup of steaming, aromatic Punsch in your freezing hands, you know that Christmas time has arrived!

For many, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. In Austria, the offers and entertainment during Advent time are enormous and Christmas magic can be found everywhere. Small and huge Christmas trees, gorgeous Christmas lighting illuminating the city and Christmas decorations covering every house. In Vienna, Christmas spirit can be found in every corner of the city, from the proud Christmas markets and decorated sights (for example Vienna’s city hall) to the men selling chestnuts and potato wedges on the street. You can detect Christmas scents everywhere, which lightens every mood and intensifies the Christmas spirit in Vienna. But what are the delicious smelling treats you can get in the whole city during Advent time? We introduce you to traditional Austrian food and drinks you have to try during Christmas time!

Warming beverages for cold winter days

You can’t spend December in Vienna without having at least one Punsch (punch) or Glühwein (mulled wine) at a Christmas market. Glühwein is a typical Austrian beverage consisting of heated red wine and spices. Punsch is a drink made of fruit juice, spices and alcohol like wine or liquor. You will be blown away by all the different Punsch we sell here in Austria. Besides the classical Punsch, Orangenpunsch (orange punch) and Beerenpunsch (berry punch), they sell Apfelpunsch (apple punch), Eierlikörpunsch (advocaat punch), Kokospunch (coconut punch), Granatapfelpunsch (pomegranate punch) or Turbopunsch (strong alcoholic punch) and much more fancy and delicious mixtures.

Of course, tea also pertains to our most beloved winter beverages. A good idea is to add rum to your tea for the warming effect. With a squeeze of lemon, the tea unfolds its full aroma and serves its purpose well.

Children also want to warm themselves at the Christmas market. Non-alcoholic alternatives like Kinderpunsch (children’s punch), hot chocolate or milk with honey are delicious and also equally desired by many adults.

The best Austrian Christmas biscuits

Although everyone has a different taste and their own ideas about the perfect Christmas treats, we all agree about one thing: we are absolutely crazy about Christmas biscuits and can’t wait for the time where Christmas biscuits can be found everywhere. Recipes and insider tips are passed on from one generation to the next. For many, Christmas traditions like baking biscuits together is a must. Remembering how funny it was to cut Zimtsterne with star-shaped biscuits cutters still brings adults joy. During Christmas time, biscuits taste twice as good as usual, simply because everyone has childhood memories about the best Vanillekipferl made with grandmother or other family members. It is pure joy to smell freshly baked Lebkuchen and to share self-made goods with neighbors and friends. Of course, biscuits at Christmas markets are also delicious. But of all the typical Austrian Christmas biscuits, which should you try? Here is an overview of Austria’s best Christmas biscuits!

Vanillekipferl

Vanillekipferl are probably Austria’s most famous Christmas bake ever. They taste like almond and vanilla and are known for their typical shape.

Linzer Augen

Linzer Augen are very soft cookies filled with delicious jam and dusted with icing sugar. They are famous for their special appearance.

Zimtsterne

Zimtsterne (cinnamon stars) are star-shaped delicacies tasting of almond and cinnamon and are topped with icing sugar.

Lebkuchen

Lebkuchen (gingerbread) are known all over the world as one of the most famous Christmas treats. There is no way to describe the typical aroma of Lebkuchen- they just taste like Christmas!

Rumkugeln

You should not eat too many Rumkugeln (rum truffles) before driving, as the lovely looking treats contain alcohol, which ensures a great and typical taste.

Kokosbusserl

Kokosbusserl (coconut kisses) are especially beloved by inhabitants for their enchanting name. Because they contain much coconut flakes, they are really juicy and wonderfully sweet.

Spekulatius

Spekulatius (almond biscuits) are really beautiful biscuits which contain a special spice which gives the treats their great aroma. They are best when dipped into fruit tea or Punsch.

Have a good time in Vienna warming yourselves with Punsch, filling your belly with all kinds of Christmas bakeries and enjoy Christmas time in this beautiful city!

]]> https://blog.viennaresidence.com/viennas-best-traditional-coffeehouses/ https://blog.viennaresidence.com/viennas-best-traditional-coffeehouses/#comments Mon, 16 Apr 2018 09:28:25 +0000 https://blog.viennaresidence.com/?p=303 Vienna’s best traditional Coffee Houses

10 Viennese Coffee Houses you have to visit

Viennese Coffee Houses are some of the most famous establishments in the city, just think of Sacher or Demel. To experience the lifestyle of real Viennese and sample Vienna’s typical atmosphere, it is essential to visit a traditional Coffee House in Vienna at least once during your stay. The special flair and old-fashioned furniture of a classical Coffee House will sweep you away not only because of their historical significance, but also because of their delicious specialities on offer.

Historical value

Inhabitants know that when we speak of traditional Viennese Coffee Houses, we don’t think of simple restaurants or bars, but of locations with their very own character. Therefore, visitors often stay long after finishing their coffee or meal, as it is typical to take your time while enjoying the calm atmosphere or to meet with friends. This tradition goes back to the time when Coffee Houses in Vienna were numerous and considered very modern. Their popularity reached a peak at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.

This era even has its own designation: the Wiener Kaffeehauskultur. These cultural aspects ensure the secure existence of these old Coffee Houses, as they weren’t only used for eating and drinking, but also as places to write, compose, or to experience creative inspiration in general. Numerous artists, musicians, poets and writers visited their favourite Coffee Houses on a regularl basis.

Fort instance, the famous writers Arthur Schnitzler, Hugo von Hofmannsthal and Stefan Zweig all relaxed or worked in Viennese Coffee Houses (some of them are now called Literarenkaffees) while the writers are called Kaffeehausliteraren. Artists such as Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele also enjoyed the Coffee Houses’ atmosphere. In addition, these places were also used for creative and philosophical exchanges amongst the artists.

As you can see, art and culture were strongly connected with Coffee Houses at this time, as they were places where one could forget about the outside world, along with their worries and duties.

Unfortunately, Kaffeehauskultur was replaced with modern bars and Coffee House chains. The Kaffeehaussterben (coffehouse-dying) started in the 1950s and left the Ringstraße with only 4 Coffee Houses instead of 15. Now,  the remaining ones have an exceptional value and are still well attended – likely because you can easily imagine the old, relaxed Vienna instead of today’s bustling metropolis.

Now, have a look at these 10 Coffee Houses that you can visit when you are in Vienna.

1.   Cafe Hawelka

The Cafe Hawelka in the first district was one of the most famous Künstlerkaffees in Vienna. Once visited by Helmut Qualtinger and Oskar Werner, this place is characterized not only by its comfortable and cosy atmosphere, but because of its legendary Buchteln – typical bohemain sweet delicacies. They were once made by Josefine Hawelka herself and should not be missed.

Information: www.hawelka.at
Where: Dorotheergasse 6 , 1010 Wien
Opening Hours:
Mo – Th, 08:00 – 00:00
Fr – Sa, 08:00 – 01:00
Su, 10:00 – 00:00
on holidays, 10:00 – 00:00

2. Cafe Central

Especially around 1900, the elegant Cafe Central was regularly visited by intellectuals as the architect Adolf Loos and the psychologist Sigmund Freud. It is also in the first district, and has an impressive effect on visitors because of its noble design and huge portico. You can taste the original Patisserie Cafe Central Torte or classics like Marillenpalatschinken or Apfelstrudel. A rather unusual peculiarity is the Patisserie Sisi Punschkrapfen – like the empress’ favourite flower lavender, the cake is lilac in colour.

Information: www.cafecentral.wien
Where: Herrengasse/Strauchgasse, 1010 Wien
Opening Hours:
Mo – Sa, 07:30 – 22:00
Su, 10:00 – 22:00
on holidays, 10:00 – 22:00
Piano music: daily from 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm

3. Hotel Sacher

In the past, Emperor Franz Josef and Empress Sisi were delivered with the most delicious sweets from selected bakeries and confectioneries. One of them was the Hotel Sacher, which is especially known because of its Sachertorte – a chocolate cake with an unmistakable taste, and certainly one of the most famous chocolate cakes in the world. Tourists love them as well as locals, and a visit at Hotel Sacher to taste the original Sachertorte with a Viennese coffee is a must when in Vienna.

Information: Cafe Sacher
Where: Philharmonikerstrasse 4, 1010 Wien
Opening Hours: daily, 8:00 – 24:00

4. Zuckerbäckerei Demel

A second bakery favoured by the emperor was the Zuckerbäckerei Demel, which has existed since 1786 at the Michaelerplatz. Even as a child, Emperor Franz was thrilled by their refined prepared sweets, and he favoured Demel his whole life. It was also a meeting place for the Viennese nobility in general, and was famous enough to remain popular even today. Although every offering at this bakery is surely delicious and the cakes lovely decorated, their hot drinks are beloved. Beside the typical Austrian Heferlkaffee or the Kleiner Brauner, you can also choose coffee with alcohol, like the Anna Demel Kaffee, made with fine orange liqueur, or the Fiaker (made with cherry booze). If you prefer hot chocolate or tea, you will also find an impressive selection.

Information: www.demel.at
Where: Kohlmarkt 14 , 1010 Wien
Opening Hours: daily, 09:00 – 19:00

5. Cafe Landtmann

The Cafe Landtmann is one of the last remaining Kaffeehäuser at the Ringstraße, and is still very popular. It advertises the typical Kaffehauskultur from long ago, as it has existed since 1873 and has been managed by the same family for the past 40 years. You really are encouraged to take your time and stay long after you finished your coffee, admiring the furniture and interior design, and the mirrors and walls from the golden 1920s. The noble benches are even protected as a historic monument! Furthermore, celebrities like Paul McCartney and Hillary Clinton have dined at the Cafe Landmann, which is regularly visited by Austrian politicians celebrities.

The food is excellent – you can start with breakfast at 7:30 and order dinner until 23:30. Whether you desire snacks, soup, a main meal or cake, baked goods, drinks and coffee – you could stay the whole day eating traditional Austrian food such as Schnitzel, Gulasch, Backhendl or Tafelspitz.

Information: www.landtmann.at
Where: Universitätsring 4, 1010 Wien
Opening Hours: Mo – Su, 07:30 – 00:00
Piano music: Su, Mo, Tu 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm (summer: only Mo, Tu)

6. Cafe Imperial

Information: www.cafe-imperial.at
Where: Kärntner Ring 16, 1010 Wien
Opening Hours: daily, 07:00 – 23:00
Piano music: Sa, Su 3:30 pm -7:30 pm

7. Cafe Museum

Information: www.cafemuseum.at
Where: Operngasse 7, 1010 Wien
Opening Hours: daily, 08:00 – 00:00
Piano music: Fr – Su 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

8. Cafe Prückel

Information: www.pruekel.at
Where: Stubenring 24 (Luegerplatz), 1010 Wien
Opening Hours: daily, 8:30-22:00

9. Cafe Schwarzenberg

Information: www.cafe-schwarzenberg.at
Where: Kärntner Ring 17, 1010 Wien
Opening Hours:
Mo – Fr, 07:30 – 00:00
Sa – Su, 08:30 – 00:00
Piano music: Th, Fr 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm, Sa, Su 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm

10. Cafe Hofburg

Information: www.cafe-hofburg.at
Where: Hofburg, Innerer Burghof, 1010 Wien
Opening Hours: daily, 10:00 – 18:00
Piano music: Su 11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Have fun while filling your belly with Vienna’s most delicious delicacies in these typical Viennese coffeehouses!